Tag: PSG

The French Ligue 1 started this weekend in great fashion as we saw 33 goals scored, the top 4 teams winning and a crazy 3-4 between Angers and Nimes.

On Friday Marseille received Toulouse, in a game that saw the first VAR decision in the league. A cross from the right side to Valere Germain was intercepted with the hand by a Toulouse defender and after the VAR review a penalty was given. Payet didn’t miss it and Marseille took the lead in the 45th minute. In the second half the home side kept the pressure, scored more 3 goals (Payet, Germain and Thauvin) to close the game with a 4-0 win.

Monaco had an expected though match in Nantes but after having a bad time during the first half, the vice-champions scored 3 goals in the second half to win 1-3. Rony Lopes, Jovetic and Falcao were the scorers for Monaco and Emiliano Sala for Nantes. With one more season selling some of their best players, Monaco hopes that Leonardo Jardim can make magic again.

Even with a lot of magic, will not be easy for someone to beat PSG in the race for the title. in the gameweek 1 they had no trouble to defeat Caen, even with some kind of alternative lineup. The youngsters Dagba, Nsoki, Bernede and Nkunku got a chance to start and see Neymar scoring his first of the season. Rabiot and Weah scored the other 2 goals of the game. This is the second goal for Weah, after also scoring in the Super Cup against Monaco. PSG has a very deep squad but the forward will look to have some more playing time when compared to last season.

In Angers we saw probably the craziest game of the weekend in Europe. The promoted side Nimes was down 1-3 on the 75th minute, saw their striker Clement Depres scoring the 2-3 only one minute after he came in and on the 79th minute they found themselves playing with 10. In a dramatic end of the game, Ripart scored the 3-3 on the 85th minute and Depres scored again on the 89th minute to give the 3 points to Nimes. Angers will certainly remember this game for a long time.

CSKA and Lokomotiv keep losing points in Russia

In Russia we go already with 3 rounds completed and Zenit is the only team only with wins. Yesterday they traveled to Kazan and beat Rubin 0-1. The only goal of the game came on the 78th minute by Erokhin, in a period when Zenit was one man down. Also yesterday and also with one man down, Krasnodar defeated Ufa 0-1 and they sit now 4th with 6 points.

The teams from Moscow had a quite disappointing weekend, with Spartak having a narrow 1-0 win against Anzhi. Their mind looked to be already in the Champions League qualifier and the only goal came when the away team was playing with 9. Ze Luis scored the winner. CSKA was even less convincing, as they only managed to save a point in the game against the promoted side Yenisey. The striker Abel Hernandez scored the goal for them when when they were one man down. This was a round with several red cards.

The biggest surprise was the defeat of Lokomotiv Moscow against the other promoted side, Orenburg. In 3 games the champions have 0 goals scored and only 2 points. Orenburg is the early surprise of the season as they sit 3rd with 6 points.

Great Friday for the football fans as we have the Premier League finally starting! And as if that was not enough, Ligue 1 (France) Eredivisie (Netherlands) and the Portuguese Primeira Liga are also having their start today.

In England Manchester United receives Leicester after a depressing transfer window. The Red Devils were desperately looking for a defender but in the end they did not manage to get a deal done.

The big game of this first round will be played in London next Sunday, when Arsenal receives the Champions Manchester City. The Citizens are again the favorites to win the League but they should have high competition from Liverpool this season.

Walk in the park for PSG, Benfica and Porto in a close race. PSV and Ajax doing the same in the Netherlands

In France PSG should win the title again despite the fact that Ligue 1 is getting better and better every year. With Monaco and Lyon selling some of their stars, I think this might be a good year for Olympique Marseille and I can see them finishing second this year.

In Portugal we should have a race between Benfica and Porto. Sporting is having a though summer, they lost William Carvalho, Rui Patrico and Gelson. Jorge Jesus also left his coaching position, so I don’t see them strong enough to fight for the title. In my opinion Benfica will be champion and Porto the runner-up.

Just like in Portugal, we traditionally have a race with 3 candidates where Feyenoord is the underdog. I look to the Ajax team this season and there is so much talent that is almost an obligation for them to become champions. PSV will need to make sure they don’t lose points with the smaller teams so they can follow Ajax and maybe surprise them. I don’t see that happening and i believe Ajax will be first and PSV second.

Yesterday we saw PSG, Feyenoord and FC Porto winning the Super Cup of their countries and today we have Chelsea – Manchester City for the Community Shield and Galatasary – Akhisarspor for the Turkish Super Cup.

For the first game we have already the starting 11s and both team start the game with a British teenager. Sarri makes it clear that he trusts the 17 years old Callum Hudson-Odoi and he is starting on the left side of the attack. Guardiola also gives a place in the midfield to Phil Foden.

In Turkey we have Galatasaray as a clear favorite but Akhisarspor surprised Fenerbahce in the Turkish Cup final and they will do their best to repeat it today.

Next weekend we have the Spanish Super Cup that will be played in Morocco. Super Cups in another countries is more and more an option and this year, France, Spain and Italy had/will have this trophy played outside their countries.

Some of the best European leagues are almost starting and this during this weekend he have the Super Cup in France, Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey and England.

This afternoon PSG destroyed the rivals Monaco 4-0 with Di Maria scoring twice. With Cavani and Mbappe still on holidays and Neymar on the bench, the French champions made it visible of how deep is their squad as Nkunku and Timothy Weah also scored today.

In the Netherlands we also had two of the top teams facing each other, with Feyenoord beating PSV in the penalty shootout after a 0-0 in the 120 minutes. The goalkeeper Justin Bijlow had a huge game, saved Feyenoord from the defeat several times and is a name that you should keep an eye this season.

This evening in Portugal we have a match between FC Porto and Desportivo das Aves. Porto is a clear favorite here but after defeating Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final, Aves will want to surprise other of the Portuguese top teams.

Everton just confirmed the agreement with the French defender Lucas Digne. The 25 years old hopes this way to put his career back on the right track after some seasons when he was a second option for PSG and then for Barcelona.

“I want to play games, win games and excite the fans with the quality of our football” he said to the club official website.

This is the second big transfer of the club this season, after paying a 40M euros fee for Richarlison, in what it should be a totally renewed left side for them.

Last week Marco Silva said in an interview that he needed some new players and they look to be still looking for a defender, with Marco Rojo being linked to them in the last days.